For anyone who has an appointment for a visa interview in Chengdu: since the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu is going to be closed, your visa appointment is very likely not going to be completed. Sigh!

July 24: China Retaliates — Closing the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement:

　　On the morning of July 24, 2020, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the U.S. Embassy in China that it has decided to revoke authorization for the establishment and operation of the U.S. Consulate General in Chengdu, and has issued specific requirements for that consulate to cease all business and activities.

On July 21, the U.S. unilaterally instigated the incident and abruptly requested China to close the U.S. Consulate General in Houston, a move that severely violates international law and the basic norms of international relations as well as relevant provisions of the China-U.S. consular convention, and severely damages China-U.S. relations. China’s response is a just and necessary reaction to the unreasonable actions of the U.S., fully in line with international law and the basic principles of international relations and diplomatic practice.

The current situation between China and the U.S. is not one China wishes to see, and responsibility lies entirely with the U.S. We again urge the U.S. to immediately revoke the erroneous decision and create the necessary conditions for relations between the two countries to return to normal.

July 22: The U.S. Demands China Close the Chinese Consulate in Houston

The U.S. State Department said that there were large-scale illegal espionage and influence operations at the Chinese Consulate in Houston, and therefore ordered China to stop operations at the Houston consulate by Friday. A news report said that people were using a furnace in the consulate atrium to burn classified documents, which prompted firefighters to monitor the situation nearby.

What’s Next for China-U.S. Relations?

With the escalation of tensions between China and the U.S., it is difficult for us to predict what may happen next. We can only suggest that everyone keep up with the news and prepare for possible disruptions to consular and visa services.